Stamp dispensing machine



Aug. 13, 1968 J H. WALKER 3,396,886

STAMP DISPENSING MACHINE I Filed Oct. 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JAMES H WOLZIQ INVENTOR.

A 770 NE) s- 13, 1968 J. H. WALKER 3,396,886

STAMP D I SPENS ING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet a Had JAMES H MLZEE INVENTOR.

ATTdQ/VEY United States Patent 01 fice 3,396,886 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 3,396,886 STAMP DISPENSING MACHINE James H. Walker, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-half each to Leland L. Bills and Richard W. Callaway, both of Arcadia, Calif.

Filed Oct. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 402,180 36 Qlaims. (Cl. 225-11) The present invention relates to improvements in strip dispensing machines and more particularly to an improved and novel machine for dispensing a selected number of stamps from a continuous strip supply thereof with certainty, accuracy and with a speed and case not characteristic of any prior construction.

The widespread popularity of trading stamps used in the promotion of sales by merchants presents serious problems in the issuance of the stamps to purchasers, is costly and imposes an irksome and time-consuming burden on clerks and checkout personnel. Because of the lack of suitable and reliable dispensing machines, it has been widespread practice to package stamps in bulk and commonly as large sheets of stamps bound together in pad form. It is necessary for the clerk to count the necessary stamps to be dispensed and then to separate these from the sheets along irregular lines in the majority of instances, frequently part being issued from one sheet and part from another. This operation unavoidably leads to errors highly inimical to building good will for the merchant and defeating the very purpose of issuing the stamps.

Various proposals have been made heretofore for overcoming these and other serious disadvantages attending the dispensing of stamps from both loose and bound sheets, rolls and otherwise. These have as their objective issuing the exact value of stamps desired quickly, with accuracy and with a minimum loss of time in the sales transaction.

Unfortunately, the machines and other expedients heretofore proposed for this purpose have been found subject to numerous defects and disadvantages which it is the primary object of the present invention to overcome. Many problems are involved with these machines including the complexity of the mechanism, the lack of simple, easily manipulated means for selecting and issuing a desired value of stamps, the undesirably long period of time involved in carrying out a dispensing operation, the difficulty in dispensing a desired whole number of stamps with the result that separation of the dispensed length severs one or more stamps across its midlength. Other undesirable features include the unnecessarily large bulk of the machine, and the objectional operating energy required on the part of the operator. Other shortcomings obviated by this invention include an improved stamp feeding drum so designed as to readily be assembled to dispense either high-value or the more conventional lowvalue stamps, and an improved molded feed drum together with accurately inter-related coordinating means for harmonizing the movement of the manual actuator with the stamp strip itself in a manner to avoid dispensing less than a whole number of stamps. Still another feature is the provision of simple but effective slip clutch means arranged to re-engage only in certain positions wherein the manual actuator means are accurately coordinated with the stamp feeding drums. Each stamp feeding drum includes its oWn stamp counter and these together with the stamp rolls are locked against pilfering. These typical and representative shortcomings of machines as heretofore proposed also include objectional high cost, need for frequent servicing by trained personnel and the lack of suitable safeguards against pilferage and the gratuitous issuance of surplus stamps.

The present invention has been designed with the objective of avoiding each of the foregoing and other disadvantages of prior dispensing machines and its characterized by its compactness, simplicity of design, ease of operation and ample provision for compensating for manufacturing tolerances and wear, as well as for variation in the size of stamps being issued. The machine features a pair of coaxially mounted selector dials having operating finger holes along their rims usable in a manner familiar to all dial telephone users. These dials are connected through flexible positive drive belt means to dispensing drums located immediately adjacent a stamp dispensing slot and are so constructed and arranged as to assure dispensing a whole number of stamps. Directly connected with the drive belts are separate recording and tallying devices for accurately recording all dispensed stamps and viewable only through windows placed in the face of the normally locked housing. Forming an important feature of the dispensing means is a combined one-way clutch and self-centering indexing device. This device prevents retrograde movement of the drums and assures their advance to a locked position with the dispensed stamps accurately located at the severing knife.

The stamp dispensing drums, characterized by their simplicity, are mounted on suitable bearings supported by a stationary shaft and their rotation is controlled by a combined indexing and one-way clutch mechanism. The guide shoe holding the stamps in registry with the feed pins is easily and quickly opened upon release of spring latch means and is normally closed against stops so positioned as to avoid risk of pressing the stamps against the feed drums, thereby avoiding any risk of the adhesive layer adhering to any part of the mechanism. Further assurance of this is provided by facing the adhesive layer away from the dispensing drums.

Another important aspect of the design concerns mounting the mechanism proper as a unit interiorly of the upper half of the two-part housing with the selector ,dials located immediately outside the forwardly and sharply sloping front face of the machine. This disposition of the selector dials has numerous advantages which will be pointed out hereinbelow.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a unique stamp dispensing machine characterized by its simplicity, compactness, ease of operation, minimum number of components and the facility with which it can be operated while mounted on top of or in other conveniently accessible locations with respect to a cash register.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inexpensive, ruggedly designed, reliable stamp dispensing machine having numerous adjustments manipulatable at the factory to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and to assure dispensing a whole number of stamps.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stamp dispensing machine having a housing formed in two halves and wherein the principal components of the mechanism are mounted as a unit against the interior of one of the housing halves.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stamp dispensing machine utilizing a pair of concentrically mounted selector dials in association with flexible positive drive belt means operatively connected to stamp counting means and to respective dispensing drums each provided with one-way clutch with built-in automatically operating index control means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stamp dispensing machine utilizing a pair of concentrically arranged dispensing dials mounted in a plane inclined to the vertical and rotatable in one direction only against a stationary finger stop functioning in cooperation with indexing means to assure dispensing a whole number of 3 stamps with the severing line thereof accurately located opposite a severing aid.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stamp dispensing machine having simple and improved means for supporting separate rolls of stamps accurately aligned with the dispensing drums and arranged forconvenient servicing and replenishment and including eifec' tive antislack control means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a,

unique slip clutch in the drive for the stamp feeding drum which disengages as the resistance to rotation exceeds a selected value and which automatically r e-engages in a predetermined position.

Another object is the provision of a combined feed drum and slip clutch assembly.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved and more effective foul-proof means for holding the stamp strips in mesh with the feed drums and for dis-. pensing the stamps therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision .of a stamp dispensing mechanism having a key-operated lock means effective to lock the mechanism closed as well as against operation to dispense stamps.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale through the machine taken along line 2-2 on FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the broken line 33 on FIGURE 2 and showing certain coustructional features;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view taken generally along line 44 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view showing details of the one-way clutch and drum indexing means taken generally along line 55 on FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 on FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view through the slip clutch for the feed drum taken along line 7-7 on FIGURE 6.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1 there is shown one preferred embodiment of a stamp dispensing machine designated generally 10 incorporating the features of the present invention. As there shown, the machine has a main casing comprising a lower half 11 and an upper half 12 each formed in one piece from suitable material such as tough, high-strength plastic having interfitting rims which mate in the assembled position of the housing halves. The two halves mate at 13 along a plane inclined 4 machine is supported atop a cash register or on the counter beside the cash register.

Before referring to the details of the machine mechanism and by reference to FIGURE 2, it is pointed out that the mechanism proper for controlling stamp dispensing comprises a unitary assembly 18 having side frames l9suitably secured together by a cross member 21} readily mountable against the interior surface of front face 14 0f the housing with the selector dials projecting through opening 22 in front face 14.

Selector mechanism The selecetor mechanism, best shown in FIGURES l, 2 and .3 comprises a pair of concentric dials 2 4, 2'5 supported on an inclined axis normal to front face 14 of the 1 housing and similar in construction and'use to the dials the right-hand edge of a stationary, rigidly supported stop I bracke 28 having its base 29 rigidly secured, as by screws 30, to plate 20 of the main frame.

Integral with smaller dial 24 is a shaft 31 (FIGURE 2) having its outer end journaled in an antifriction bearing3-3 carried on the underside of stop bracket 28. The lower end of shaft 31 is likewise supported in antifriction bearings 34 suitably mounted on a cross brace 35 extending between and secured to frame side members 19, 19. Larger dial 25 has its hub journaled on antifriction bearings 36 carried by shaft 31 closely underlying dial 24.

Adjustably but securely attached to each of dials 24 and25 are separate drive pulleys supporting nonmetallic flexible drive belts of the type having transverse cleats meshing with co-mplementally shaped peripheries of the driving pulleys. The belt pulley for larger dial 25 comprises a flanged ring 38 (FIGURE 3) having a radial we'b formed with arcuate slots 39 in order that the pulley can be rotated through an arc in either. direction about the axis of the dial and then clamped in a desired setting by clamping screws 40 (FIGURE 3). The notched beltseating periphery of pulley 38 seats the ribs of one of the aforementioned flexible belts 41, the other similarly constructed belt 42 being supported in like manner. on smaller pulley 44. Pulley 44 is adjustably clamped to an annular pulley flange 45 (FIGURES 2, 3) by screws 46 extending through arcuate slots 47 (FIGURES 2 and 3). Flange45 has a hub snugly fitting shaft 31 and is suitably secured thereto as by a pin 48 (FIGURE 2). It will thus be clear that pulley 44 is fixed t0 and rotates with smaller dial 24 whereas pulley 38 is securedto and rotates with larger dial 25. t

The stamp dispensing drums and indexing mechanism Larger dial 25 controls dispensing of a relatively wide strip of stamps each transverse row of which represents fifty cent purchase values, whereas the smaller dial controls dispensing of a single strip of stamps representing smaller values, (as ten cents. As is best seen from FIG- URE 3, belt. 41 driven by the larger dial passes over pulley 50 connected through gearing 51 with a stamp counter 52 and then over a pair of idler guide rollers 53 and a drive pulley 54 of molded plastic coupled to the outer end of the wide dispensing drum 56. Counter drive pulley 50 is notched to seatthe belt ribsand is supportedon a bracket 58 provided with slots accommodating screws 59 holding the bracket adjustably secured to themain frame 19. It will be understood that the tension of drive belt 4-1 can be adjusted by loosening screws 5"), shifting the counter to a desired belt tensioned posil tion and tightening the screws before releasing the holding pressure on the counter.

The second drive belt 42 is similarly trained over a drive pulley 50 geared to a second stamp counter 52 for the units stamp strip and then over idler pulleys 53' and a second drive pulley 54' integral with end disc 55 of the narrow units stamp dispensing drum 56.

Drums 56, 56' are mounted on a stationary shaft 61 having its ends seated in openings in frame members 19, 19 and held detacha'bly assembled thereto, as by split keeper rings 62. As best appears from FIGURES 3 and 6, end discs 55, 55' have peripheral rims 63, 63 projecting slightly above the surfaces of the drums and serving to hold the stamps against lateral displacement from the drums.

It is apparent from the foregoing that both the selector dials and the drive belts are all supported on antifriction bearings. Accordingly, the described mechanism rotates extremely easily and with application of very slight rotary force to selector dials 24, 25. It therefore becomes important to provide means to prevent retrograde rotation of the dials and the dispensing drums as well as means for precisely limiting rotation in the selected direction touniform increments corresponding to the length of individual stamps. These ends are accomplished in a facile and effective manner by a one-way clutch and indexer for each drum having the construction now to be described.

Referring to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, it will be understood that the outer rims of the molded end wall discs 55, 55 of the dispensing drums are provided with uniformly spaced notches 75, 75 each including a cam portion 76, 76 and a stop 77, 77'. Operating over the surfaces of these notches is a roller detent 78, 78 mounted on the side of a lever arm 79, 79 fulcrumed to the main frame by a pin 80, 80. A tension spring 82, 82 has one end connected to the free end of the anms and its other end anchored to frame 19. This spring is effective to hold the rollers firmly seated in one of notches 75 and against stop surface 77. The depth of the notches is so related to the diameter of roller 78 that it is impossible to rotate the drums 56, 56' in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 5. However, the drums are readily rotatable counterclockwise since cam surface 76 of the notches readily underrides the rollers by the supporting arms pivoting outwardly in opposition to their tensioning springs. Cam surfaces 76 are so designed that should the operator fail to rotate the dial for a full increment, spring 82 will force roller 78 against the cam surface under sufficient pressure "to rotate the drum until the roller is fully seated in the notch. However, once the axis of the roller passes the forward edge of cam surface 76 the spring is effective to rotate the drum until the roller is accurately and fully seated in the bottom of the notch and against stop surface 77.

In the manner described, assurance is provided that the dispensing drums are indexed through one or more increments exactly corresponding to the length of individual stamps. Even though the operator fails to fully complete a selecting operation of the dials, nevertheless the indexing device just described will complete this operation automatically. Even if the operator should apply a slightly excessive dispensing movement to one of the dials still it will be recognized that the described indexing device will retract the selector dial accurately to its starting position for the next dispensing operation.

Another important feature of wider drum 56 is best shown in FIGURE 6 and concerns the provision of the specially designed slip clutch designated generally 120. This clutch forms the driving component interconnecting drive pulley S4 and the main body of drum 56. To this end, end ring 55, formed along its outer r-im edge with notches 75 and with a belt pulley 54, is journaled on a hub 121 integral with end ring 122 of drum 56. End ring 55 is also provided with a plurality of resilient pins 123 disposed diametrically opposite one another along either side of hub 121. As here shown, the pins and their supporting end ring 55 are molded of resilient plastic material and their inner free ends normally seat in a pair of notches 124 formed along the rim of a flange 125 carried by hub 121. Desirably, pins 123 are releasably held seated and centered innotches 124 by a stiff C-shaped spring 126 having transverse indentations near its opposite ends each snugly embracing a respective one of pins 123 in the manner made clear by FIGURE 7.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that so long as pins 123 are seated in notches 124, clutch is engaged and hub 121 of drum 56 is constrained to rotate along with belt pulley 54. However, should the resistance to rotation of hub 121 and drum 56 exceed a predetermined value indicating that stamps are jammed, then further effort applied to the drum through slip clutch 120 will :result in fingers 123 springing out of seats 124 allowing the clutch to disengage and slip. It will then be impossible to drive the drum until the pins again become seated in a pair of V-notches, an action which occurs only when the dial 25 and the associated drive pulley is accurately harmonized with the position of the stamp dispensing drum. In this connection, it is pointed out that notches 124 are spaced apart an arcuate distance corresponding to the length of the stamps being dispensed from drum 56. It follows that it is impossible to drive the drum unless the drive belt and more particularly the manual selector dial 25 is accurately coordinated with the pins on drum 56.

Still another important feature of both stamp feeding drums is that their cylindrical surfaces are formed by a plurality of individual molded plastic strips 130, 135, respectively (FIGURE 6), having shouldered ends sized to fit within arcuate grooves on the facing surfaces of the drum end rings, a suitable design being that shown in FIGURE 6. In addition and importantly, each strip is formed with an axial row of low-height tapering pins 131 integral with the strip and each shaped to fit within the perforations separating the stamps from one another. As herein illustrated there are five pins per row but a lesser or greater number may be used. The distance between the rows of pins circumferentially of the drum corresponds to the distance between transverse rows of perforations.

The mode of constructing the dispensing drums just described has important advantages in that it is essential that the pins be very accurately dimensioned and positioned with respect to the outer surface of the drums. If not so positioned they will not register accurately with the perforations in the strips of stamps with the result that the stamp strip will become detached from the drum or will become perforated with holes at locations other than those required for proper operation of the machine. It is simple and inexpensive to make the individual strips from molded thermoplastic material and to do so at high speed and with the requisite accuracy and uniformity. Previous attempts to hold the pins integral with the body of the drum have not been successful nor satisfactory. If desired, the strips can be bonded or fused in their assembled positions relative to the end rings and it is unnecessary to provide fasteners for holding the parts together. The entire drum structure is light in weight, easily and quickly assembled and meets the most exacting requirements for accuracy, ruggedness, dependability, uniformity and overall efliciency and performance.

Stamp guide shoe and severing facilities Another important auxiliary of the present dispensing machine includes a pair of arcuate guide shoes 86, 86 embracing one side of the two dispensing drums. These shoes are preferably molded from suitable thermoplastic material and, as here shown, the undersurface of each is provided with circumferentially-extending ribs closelyspaced laterally of each row of pins 131. These ribs are highly effective in forcing the stamp perforations over the pointed ends of the pins and the inner edges of each rib is spaced from the surface of the drum a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the stamp strips. The forward edge of the shoes is rounded to providethe upper semi-circular surface of a dispensing channel 87. The bottom portion of this channel is formed by a complementally shaped thermoplastic member 88 extending crosswise of the main frame along the upper edge of the dispensing dials 24, 25 and is rigidly secured to the frame by suitable mounting brackets 97 and screws 98. The guide shoes are journaled on a pivot pin 89 having its ends supported in the end walls of the lower channel member 8%. Owing to the circular opposed surfaces of member 88 and the adjacent edge portion of shoes 86, .86, it will be apparent that the guide shoes can be pivoted between their open and closed positions without affecting the size of the stamp dispensing channel 87. In this connection, it is further pointed out that the inlet end of channel 87 is located tangential to the forward edges of drums 56, 56, a fact made clear by FIGURE 5. Accord ingly, the advance ends of the stamp strips can be registered with the drum feed pins 131 with assurance that after the shoes have been closed the stamp strips will be channeled automatically and with certainty into and through dispensing channel 87.

The forward upper edge of dispensing channel member 88 is provided with a row of sharp-edged teeth 90 which are highly effective as tear elements when severing the dispensed stamps along a transverse line of perforations even with these teeth.

Each of the guide shoes is provided with a retainer ex tension 92 projecting inwardly from its inner end. This extension preferablyhas a rounded contour in cross sec tion so as to be easily seated in a C-shaped retainer spring 93 secured to a transverse member 94 carried by the main frame. Each extension lug 92 is provided with a stop screw 95 having a snug friction fit with threads in member 92 and adjustable as necessary to vary the closed position of the guide shoes with respect to the outer surface of the stamp feeding drums. In this connectionit will be understood that the forward end of the guide shoes is adjustable by means of a mounting bracket 97 on the opposite ends of member 88. This bracket is securable to the main frame by screws 98 movable in generally vertically disposed slots of the main frame thereby permitting the forward end of the guide shoes to be accurately adjusted toward or away from the surface of the feeding drums.

The means for locking the dispensing machine closed and inaccessible to tampering or pilfering of the stamps will be best understood by reference to FIGURES 2 and 5. Securely fastened to the upper midportion of cover 12 is a barrel lock mechanism 10%) secured in place thereon by assembly nut 101. This lock includes a three'position rotary member operated by a key 102 and carrying an L shaped locking lug 104 on its inner end the downturned shorter leg of which is rounded off to facilitate its movement into and out of locking position. This lug is rotatable through an arc of at least 90 degrees from the unlocked position shown in FIGURE 2 to an intermediate position wherein the cover is locked and then to a final position wherein the dispensing dials are locked against rotation and the cover remains locked against opening as shown in FIGURE wherein the longer leg of arm 194 is snugly engaged beneath the lower rim edge of the L-shaped transverse frame member 94 and locking member 105 is pivoted downwardly behind detent arms 79, 79. When arm 104 is in its first or intermediate locking position it is 79'. Member is pivotally supported by pins 106 on tangs bent downwardly from member 94 and is urged to pivot clockwise by tension springs 107. In this final locked position it is impossible to rotate either dial 24 or 25 to dispense any stamps because, as is evident from FIGURE 2, levers 79, 79' cannot pivot and therefore rollers 78, 78' carried thereby cannot move out of notches 75, 75'. However they are free to do so when the key is rotated to the intermediate position but cover 12 re-.

mains locked closed until the key is rotated until arm 104 is clear of fixed frame member 94, or the position shown in FIGURE 2.

The stamp storage facility The storage chamber rearward of the dispensing mech anism proper comprises a generally C-sliaped rigid sheet metal member 108 secured between framemembers 19, 19 and securable to the rear edge of the lower casing member 11 by bolts 109. The outer sides of the stamp roll seating chambers are formed by a pair of end walls 110, 111 suitably secured to C-shaped member 168. The realtively narrow chamber 112 accommodates a single strip stamp roll immediately adjacent plate 111 and includes acooperating partition plate 113. Inwardly of this partition plate is a second storage chamber 114 (FIG- URE 4) for a roll of standard size ten cent value stamps. If it is desired to use this space to store a roll of higher value stamps, then it is desirable to secure a divider accessory 115 to the C-shaped member as by bolts 116. This accessory is shown in place in the storage compartment and it will be understood as including a transverse supporting strip 117 interconnecting the lower edges of plates 115 and in which rests a roll of stamps 118.

To avoid the possibility of slack problems an antislack means is provided in the storage compartment to prevent the rolls from uncoiling excessively during the dispensing operation. Simple and effective means for this purpose is provided by the present invention and comprises an inverted C-shaped member having a pair of upright legs 136 extending along the exterior sides of side walls 110, 111 and interconnected across their upper ends by a heavy gage plate 137. The inner edge of this plate has a rounded lip formed by reverse bend 138 across which the stamp strip 139 passes from roll 118 to the dispensing drum 56. Lip 138 holds the stamps pressed lightly against a friction shoe 139' secured to the upper transverse edge of C-member 108.

Anti-slack assembly 135 is pivoted to the lower rear corners of end walls 110 and 111 by a pivot member 140. As is made clear by FIGURE 2, substantially the entire weight of the anti-slack member 135 is located forwardly of pivot member 140 with the result that lip 138 presses the stamps against back-up member 139 under substantial pressure. This is found to provide a highly effective braking means preventing excessive uncoiling of the stamps and also serves as means for holding the stamp strip inaccurate aligning position with the pins on the feed drums 56, 56'.

During threading operations anti-slack member 135 is pivotedclockwise into its open position rendering the storage compartment fully accessible for loading stamps and threading the advance end of the strips over the feed drums. 1

Among the remaining features to be mentioned is the provision of windows 112 (FIGURES 1 and 3) in the lower sides of housing member 11 through which stamp recorders 52, 52'can be read whenever checking the stamp supply, as when changing clerks, at the end 0 the day, or at any other time this is desirable.

Operation The operator uses the machinein a manner readily apparent from the foregoing description of its construction and the functional relationship of its components. Inner dial 24 is rotated clockwise to dispense single stamps by placing the finger in an appropriate one of the recesses 26 and rotating the dial clockwise until the finger engages stop 28. Likewise, an appropriate number of laterally connected rows of stamps from the big roll are similarly dispensed using dial 25 in the same manner. If large denomination stamps are mounted in storage compartment 114, accessory 115 is utilized as described above. Dial 24 is used to dispense stamps equal in value to a fraction of one dollar and dial 2-5 is used to dispense single $1-value stamps. It will therefore be appreciated that the machine is usable with equal facility to dispense either large value or small value stamps or only the more conventional smaller value stamp strips with equal facility and utilizing essentially the same mechanism, it being pointed out when dispensing high-value stamps a different size belt and pulley may be required for the stamp feed drum in order to dispense a single stamp for each increment of rotation of dial 25. The number of stamps dispensed by the cashier during her period of duty is readily checked by reading the counters at the beginning and at the end of the duty period. It is therefore a simple matter to charge each cashier with responsibility for the stamps issued during consecutive periods of duty.

Should the stamps become jammed in the storage compartment for any reason this is easily detected by the sensitive slip clutch mechanism 120 shown in FIGURE 6. When the pull on the stamp strip exceeds a safe value likely to sever or damage the strip, clutch 12G releases and refuses to issue more stamps. Inspection is then made of the mechanism to determine the cause of malfunctioning following correction of which clutch 120 automatically resumes its proper coordinated driving operation with dial 25 accurately harmonized with drum 56.

If the operator fails to rotate either dial to its full dispensing position, then roller detents 78, 78' operate in connection with the entrance end of notches 75 at the outer ends of the dispensing drums to rotate these drums to a precise stop position wherein the perforations of the stamp strips are accurately aligned with the tear-off teeth '90-all as explained in detail in connection with the description of the roller detent components.

While the particular stamp dispensing machine herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for dispensing selected whole numbers of stamps from continuous strips of stamps connected together by transverse perforations, said machine having a housing provided with an upwardly inclined forward face, a pair of concentric dials on the front of said upwardly inclined face each having a plurality of finger-engaging recesses arranged along their respective rims and indicative of the number of stamps to be dispensed by rotation of a selected recess to a stop, separate rotary stamp dispensing means having axes extending generally transversely of the axis of said dials, means including separate positive drive belts between said dials and a respective one of said rotary stamp dispensing means, a stamp storage chamber within said housing for storing continuous strips of stamps in position for free flow to said rotary stamp dispensing means and to a stamp discharge opening, and means for stopping said dispensing means with the transverse end edge of the stamp next to be dispensed locked in position at the discharge opening from the housing.

2. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of stamp counting and tallying means mounted within said housing and having a driving connection with at least one of said positive drive belts, and adjustable support means for said stamp tally- 1% ing means effective to vary the operating tension in said belt.

3. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the smaller one of said concentric dials is fixed to a shaft adjacent the outer end thereof, antifriction bearing means for the opposite ends of said shaft and including a stationary bracket mounted on the exterior inclined face of said housing and providing a finger stop engaged by the users finger when rotating either of said dials to dispense stamps, and the larger of said dials being journaled on said shaft adjacent the inner side of said smaller dial.

4. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said dials are mounted for rotation about the axis of a common supporting shaft for both and having a fixed driving connection to the smaller one of said pair of concentric dials, a belt pulley attached directly to the larger of said dials, and a second belt pulley fixed to said common shaft inwardly of the inner end of said larger dial.

5. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 4 characterized in the provision of adjustable clamping means between said dials and the associated belt pulley for varying the rotary position of the one relative to the other to facilitate coordinating said dials with said stamp dispensing means and with the discharge opening for stamps whereby the attached end of the last dispensed stamp will be accurately positioned at the end of said stamp discharge opening as a finger seated in a recess of the dispensing dial rotates into contact with said stationary finger stop.

6. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said housing is formed in a plurality of parts including a lower base part and an upper cover part inter fitting along the juxtaposed edges thereof, and being further characterized in that said dials, said stamp dispensing means and the belt drives therebet'ween are all supported on said lower base part.

7. In a stamp dispensing machine, a housing having a front face inclined to the vertical, a pair of dials mounted on said face in concentric relation each having a row of uniformly spaced finger-receiving recesses arranged along the rims thereof, a combined bearing bracket and finger stop overlying the cent-er of said dials rigidly attached to said machine adjacent the rim of the larger of the dials, means including an antifriction hearing between said smaller dial and the adjacent portion of said bearing bracket, a common shaft for said dials having its outer end portion secured to the smaller of said concentric dials, bearing means supporting the inner end of said shaft, antifriction bearing means between said shaft and the hub portion of said larger dial, separate belt pulleys operatively connected to said dials and adapted to support belts for transmitting movement to stamp dispensing means having an axis separate from and arranged at. an angle to the axis of rotation of said dials and their associated belt pulleys, and means detachably supporting the bearing at one end of said common shaft thereby permitting said dials and said belt pulleys to be removed from said housing.

8. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 7 characterized in that the larger of said dials is supported on said shaft by antifriction bearings and is free to rotate thereon independently of said smaller dial, adjustable means for locking said pulleys in different rotary positions with respect to an associated one of said dial-s, and the peripheries of each of said pulleys being notched to seat a notched positive-drive type flexible belt.

9. A stamp dispensing machine having a housing with a front face inclined acutely to a vertical plane, a pair of concentrically related dials lying parallel to said front face and journaled in said housing for rotation only in one direction and having a row of finger-receiving openings arranged along their rims, fixed stop means overlying said dials and extending across the path of rotation of said rows of finger openings and engageable with the users finger upon rotating either one of said dials, a pair of axially aligned stamp dispensing drums mounted on a horizontal axis underlying said pair fo dials, separate nometallic belts connected between said dials and an associated one of said dispensing drums, guide means for supporting continuous strips of stamps againstthe peripheries of said dispensing drums with the ungummed face thereof in contact with said drums and including a wide thin dispensing passage means opening through said housing face closely beside said pair of dials.

10. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said stamp dispensing passage means is provided with a stamp severing aid extending transversely of its lower outer end, and guard means closely overlying said stamp severing aid and projecting outwardly therebeyond.

11. In combination with a stamp dispensing machine, that improvement which comprises a pair of stamp dispensing drums rotatably supported on common shaft means, said drums having low-height pins projecting therefrom positioned for engagement in perforations through stamp strips to be dispensed over said drums, guide shoe means embracing a portion of each of said drums and cooperating therewith to hold stamp strips assembled over said pins without applying pressure to either face of the stamps, means pivotally supporting one transverse edge of said guide shoe means, adjustable stop means underlying the drum side of said guide shoe means adjacent the other transverse edge thereof, and resilient latch means for releasably locking said guide shoe means against said stop means, and the guide shoe means for each of said drums being movable when unlatched to a drum loading position away from the associated drum.

12. A stamp dispensing machine for dispensing a selected number of stamps arranged in a continuous strip and interconnected by transverse rows of perforations, said machine having a rotary stamp dispensing drum, a one-way clutch and indexing means operatively associated with one end of said stamp dispensing drums, said means comprising a separate indexing notch in the rim of said drum for each desired index position thereof and equally spaced from one another concentrically of said drum, spring-biased stop means movably supported for movement into and out of seating engagement in said notches and cooperating therewith to assure complete and accurate seating of said stop means in one of said indexing notches before permitting the drum to come to rest, and said indexing notches being so shaped relative to said stop means as to permit initiation of rotation of the drum in one direction only.

13. The machine defined in claim 12 characterized in that said indexing notches are distributed along the peripheral rim edge of one end of said drum, said drum end being molded in one piece and including a belt pulley on the exterior face thereof.

14. The machine defined in claim 12 characterized in the provision of a plurality of said stamp dispensing drums arranged in end-to-end relationship and each having similarly shaped and arranged indexing notches about the remotely positioned rim edges thereof, and independently supported roller detent means operatively associated with the notches of each of said stamp dispensing drums.

15. In combination with a stamp dispensing machine, a main frame including a pair of side Walls having aligned openings, a nonrotating shaft having its opposite ends protruding outwardly through said openings and held detachably assembled therein by spring keeper means, a pair of stamp dispensing drums freely mounted on said shaft, a notched belt pulley fixed to the remote ends of each drum for seating separate ribbed flexible driving belts for said drums, one-way clutch and indexing means operatively associated with the remotely spaced ends of said drums, low-height pins projecting outwardly from said drums registrable within perforations carried by stamp strips to be dispensed under the controlled rotation of said drums, and separate guide shoe means carried by said frame and including means for holding the same radially from the peripheries of said drums by a distance slightly greaterthan the thickness of said stamp strips thereby to safeguard against the application of pressure to the faces of said strips by said guide shoe means.

16'. A manually energized stamp dispensing machine having a main housing formed by a pair of oppositely facing upper and lower parts having mating interfitting rim edges and each having coplanar front faces acutely inclined to the vertical, a main unitary frame for t stamp dispensing mechanism proper, said main frame being attached as a unit against the interior front face of said lower main housing part and including as a part thereof a pair of concentrically related manually operated selector dials and a separate stamp dispensing drum assembly operatively connected to an associated one of said dials by a separate nonmetallic flexible driving belt, separate stamp counters arranged to be driven by a respective one of said belts and viewablefor reading through window means in one of housing parts, separate stamp roll supporting means mounted in the rear portion of the lower housing part, and means for feeding the face ide of said stamps into contact with the face of Said d pensing drums and past a severing device projecting through an opening on the front face of said housing located abovethe upper rim edges of said selector dials, and combined one-way clutch and indexing means as sociated with the drive means for said dispensing drums and cooperating to assure one-way rotation of said drums by increments corresponding to the stamp length.

17. A stamp dispensing machine for dispensing a selected number of stamps arranged in a continuous strip and interconnected by transverse rows of perforations,

said machine including means supporting a rotary stamp dispensing drum, said drum havin transverse rows of pins protruding radially from the surface thereof and spaced apart axially of said drum, positive rotary drive means for said drum including slip clutch means operable to disengage when the resistance to rotation exceeds a predetermined value and including means for re-establishing the positive driving condition of said slip clutch means when said rows of pins are in'a predetermined relative relationship with respect to said drive means for said stamp dispensing drum.

18. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 17 characterized in that said slip clutch means includes a first rotary part driven by said positive drive means, a second rotary part rotatable with the portion of said dispensing drum provided with said pins, and means movably carried between said first and second rotary parts and operable to interlock for positive driving engagement only when said first and second rotary parts are in a predetermined relationship.

19. In a stamp dispensing machine, a rotary stamp dispensing drum provided with pins for engagement in perforations extending transversely of strips of stamps, a circular dial with a row of finger-engaging spaces distributed along its rim for use in dispensing a selected whole number of stamps, positive drive means interconnecting said dial and said drum including slip clutch means having first and second rotary parts connected one to said drum and one to the positive drive means therefor, said slip clutch means being positively engageable when said pins are in a predetermined position with respect to th finger-engaging Spaces of said dial and being disengageable when the resistance to drum rotation exceeds a predetermined value, whereby said clutch means is engaged for positive drive only when said drum pins are in a preselected relationship to Said dial such that a whole number of stamps will be dispensed when said dial is rotated through a whole number of increments each corresponding to the distance between similar points of adjacent ones of said finger-engaging spaces.

20. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 19 characterized in the provision of means for normally restricting said dial and drum to rotation in a single direction, and means for automatically rotating said stamp dispensing drum accurately to a predetermined position with exactly a whole number of stamps dispensed each time said dial is rotated approximately to its desired terminal position for dispensing a preselected number of stamps.

21. In a stamp dispensing mechanism having a rotary cylindrical drum mounted on a supporting shaft, said drum having hub means fixed thereto, rotary drive means for said drum including slip clutch means, said slip clutch means including a plurality of pins parallel to said hub and arranged along the opposed sides thereof, said pins having one end of each attached to and rotatable with one of said clutch parts with their other ends seatable in one notch of a ring of notches carried by another of said clutch parts, and said slip clutch means including means for holding said pins normally seated in said notches unless the resistance to rotation of said drum by said driving means exceeds a predetermined value.

22. A stamp dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 21 characterized in that said drum and said slip clutch means are mounted on said shaft means and in that said slip clutch means is housed within one end of said drum.

23. A stamp dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 22 characterized in that said drum and said slip clutch means are formed essentially from molded plastic components, and in that said means for holding said pins normally seated in said notches includes metallic spring means bearing against each of said pins.

24. A stamp feeding drum for a stamp dispensing mechanism comprising a pair of plastic end rings spaced axially apart, a ring of plastic strips having their opposite ends supported by a respective one of said end rings and cooperating therewith to form a cylindrical stamp feeding drum, and at least certain of said strips having low-height outwardly protruding pins integral therewith and positioned to register with perforations customarily present in strips of stamps.

25. A stamp feeding drum as defined in claim 24 characterized in that said pins are spaced apart lengthwise of said strip a distance approximately equally the width of standard ten-cent value trading stamps whereby said drum is usable with equal facility to dispense both standard size ten-cent stamps and substantially larger dollar value trading stamps.

26. A stamp feeding drum assembly for use in a stamp dispensing mechanism, said drum assembly comprising shaft means and a supporting frame therefor, a pair of independently operable cylindrical stampfeeding drums supported in side-by-side relation thereon, means defining a stamp dispensing channel having an entrance end in close tangential proximity to the discharge side of said drums and including as part thereof a pair of pivotally supported arcuate guard shoes closely embracing a substantial arcuate portion of one side of said drums, retaining means for normally holding said guard shoes releasably in closed position and closely spaced from the juxtaposed surfaces of said drums by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the stamps to be dispensed, and said guard shoes forming part of said stamp dispensing channel.

27. A stamp dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 26 characterized in that said guard shoes are movable between open and closed positions when released from said retaining means without restricting said stamp dispensing channel and while maintaining the entrance end thereof in tangential alignment with the surfaces of said drums.

2.8. A stamp dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 26 characterized in that said guard shoes and said means cooperating therewith to form said stamp dispensing channel is formed from molded plastic components, and one longitudinal edge at the discharge end of said channel having molded therein a series of closely spaced teeth to provide effective means for severing dispensing stamps from those concealed within said dispensing channel.

29. In combination, a stamp dispensing mechanism having a main housing formed in two oppositely cupped halves shaped to iuterfit along their juxtaposed rim edges, a unitary stamp dispensing mechanism having a main supporting frame and including a pair of concentric manually-operable dials mounted thereon and accessible through an opening in one of said halves when said mechanism assembly is clamped therein, key-operated lock means mounted in the other of said housing halves and having a key-manipulated locking arm selectively engageable with a portion of said main frame to hold said last mentioned housing half detachably locked in assembled position.

30. In combination, stamp dispensing mechanism comprising, a main housing, stamp dispensing drum means mounted on an axis parallel ot the front face of said housing and in communication with a stamp dispensing slot, a storage chamber adjacent said drum means and having means for supporting at least one roll of strip stamps therein with the axis of said roll close to and parallel to the axis of said feeding drum means, and movably supported anti-slack means having a transverse edge biased against a strip of stamps extending from said supply roll over said dispensing drum means and cooperating with back-up means on the opposite side of said strip of stamps to hold said stamp strip frictionally pressed against said back-up means, said anti-slack means being readily movable to a stable rest position to one side of said storage chamber to facilitate recharging said chamber with a fresh roll of stamps.

31. The combination defined in claim 30 characterized in the provision of a stamp roll positioning accessory and means for holding the same detachably assembled in said stamp storage chamber, said accessory being adapted for use to support a roll of one-dollar value stamps in proper position to be dispensed by said drum means when in use for dispensing high value stamps, and said accessory being readily removable to accommodate said storage chamber to receive low value stamp supply rolls when desired for use with the latter stamps.

32. In a stamp dispensing machine, a main housing, means therein for storing a bulk supply of stamps, manually controlled means for dispensing a selected number of said stamps from said supply through a dispensing opening through said main housing, and common key-operated mechanical means operable by a single key inserted thereinto from the exterior of said main housing operable through mechanical interlock means when turned to a first position to lock said manually controlled stamp dispensing means positively against operation and operable when turned to a second position to release said manually controlled means for operation to dispense stamps while locking the machine closed against access to said bulk supply of stamps.

33. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 32 characterized in that said main housing includes an access cover to the interior thereof, said key controlled means being additionally operable to lock said cover in the closed position thereof independently of the locked or unlocked condition of said stamp dispensing means.

34. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 33 characterized in that said key-operated means is mounted on said cover and moves with said cover into and out of the closed position of the latter.

35. A stamp dispensing machine as defined in claim 33 characterized in that said key-operated means includes a detent member rotatable by said key into and out of positive engagement with a rigidly supported interior component of said machine, said means for dispensing stamps including a stamp dispensing feed drum, and means operable by said key-operated detent member to lock said manually operable means against rotation and said cover in closed position when said key is turned to the said 2,878,014 3/ 1959 Zeigle et al 226157 X first position thereof and operable to unlock said manu- 2 937 554 5 /19 Nathan 33 242 X ally operable means while maintaining said cover closed 2 962 28,2 11/1960 B er land 226 109 when turned to a second position intermediate said first g position and the fully unlocked position thereof. 5 3061162 10/1962 Adams 226-435 X 36. A stamp dispensing machine a defined in claim 3,083,613 4/ 1963 stallsell 226-435 32 characterized in that said key-operated means is ope 3,212,692 10/1965 Arp 83243 X able to lock said cover closed with said stamp dispensing l k d l k i th t' f th =11 means oc e or un oc ed at e op 10H 0 e person av FO EI N PATENTS ing charge of the key. 10

References Cited 381,649 9/1923 Germany.

UNITED STATES PATENTS r 1,928,785 10/1933 Helsel 83-243 15 JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner.

2,712,442 7/1955 Hanson. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR DISPENSING SELECTED WHOLE NUMBERS OF STAMPS FROM CONTINUOUS STRIPS OF STAMPS CONNECTED TOGETHER BY TRANSVERSE PERFORATIONS, SAID MACHINE HAVING A HOUSING PROVIDED WITH A UPWARDLY INCLINED FORWARD FACE, A PAIR OF CONCENTRIC DIALS ON THE FRONT OF SAID UPWARDLY INCLINED FACE EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF FINGER-ENGAGING RECESSES ARRANGED ALONG THE RESPECTIVE RIMS AND INDICATIVE OF THE NUMBER OF STAMPS TO BE DISPENSD BY ROTATION OF A SELECTED RECESS TO A STOP, SEPARATE ROTARY STAMP DISPENSING MEANS HAVING AXES EXTENDING GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY OF THE AXIS OF SAID DIALS, MEANS INCLUDING SEPARATE POSITIVE DRIVE BELTS BETWEEN SAID DIALS AND A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID ROTARY STAMP DISPENSING MEANS, A STAMP STORAGE CHAMBER WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR STORING CONTINUOUS STRIPS OF STAMPS IN POSITION FOR FREE FLOW TO SAID ROTARY STAMP DISPENSING MEANS AND TO A STAMP DISCHARGE OPENING, MEANS FOR STOPPING SAID DISPENSING MEANS WITH THE TRANSVERSE END EDGE OF THE STAMP NEXT TO BE DISPENSED LOCKED IN POSITION AT THE DISCHARGE FROM THE HOUSING. 